[JURIST] Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman [official profile] and former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy [defense website], along with two others, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges if a "widespread racketeering conspiracy" that included bribery for official acts in the state. According to the indictment, Siegelman and former chief of staff Paul Hamrick took bribes and used extortion during his term as governor from 1999 to 2003, with Scrushy allegedly paying $500,000 for an appointment to the state hospital regulatory board. Also charged was former Transportation Director Gary Mack Roberts, who Siegelman allegedly used to help influence state agency actions. Siegelman has maintained [Birmingham News report] that the investigation is a partisan attempt to derail his campaign to regain the governorship. Siegelman was indicted last year [JURIST report] for health care fraud, although the charges were ultimately dropped [JURIST report] after prosecutors could not prove the case. The Montgomery Advertiser has more.